That night they wait for a call from Shannchyuan. Yihshyong and Iren get their turn on guard first, while Shinnshiow and Jenqyih sleep. Around three o'clock in the morning, Shinnshiow and Jenqyih get up and replace Iren and Yihshyong to stand guard. But that night Shannchyuan did not call. He only rings to give them the news at about eight o'clock in the morning. He is okay, but he doesn't know anything about Songfei.
They are relieved that nothing terrible happened to Shannchyuan. But at the same time are somewhat worries that there is a chance Songfei might actually be in trouble. They decide not to go anywhere today. After Shannchyuan returns, they would discuss what to do.
At nine in the morning, the phone rings again. Iren rushes out of the room to answer the phone. He suspects there is another news from Shannchyuan.
"Hello," comes a voice from the other end.
"Chioujen?" Iren recognises the voice. The voice owner is Jongharng Chioujen, their friend who had moved to another city six months ago.
"Yes, it's me, Chioujen," the man replies.
"What is it, Chioujen?" asks Iren. Chioujen usually called them once or twice a week to keep up to date with each other. The calls are made at night because long-distance calls are cheaper at night. It is also because Chioujen works during the day. Nine o'clock like now usually is a busy time for Chioujen.
"How are you doing? Have you found a new home yet?" Chioujen asks. His tone sounds like a happy man.
"Not yet," replies Iren. "I think this problem will take a long time. So there is a possibility that we will be vagabonding next week," Iren continues, laughing out loud.
"The company has decided to bring me back to the head office. So I will go back there tomorrow," Chioujen says.
"Wow, that's good," exclaims Iren, "later we can be homeless here together."
They both laugh together.
"I'll be there in the evening. I think it will be after ten," says Chioujen.
"Very well. We will wait for you."
"Give my regards to the others."
"Okay. See you tomorrow."
When Iren hung up, Yihshyong walks over to him. He asks.
"Who's calling?"
"The company has transferred Chioujen back here. So he will be coming home tomorrow. He will arrive at this house after ten in the evening."
"Oh, that's great. We have a friend with the same fate as a bum," Yihshyong says.
"At least he still has a job," says Iren.
Yihshyong burst out laughing when he hears Iren's words.
Chioujen, the youngest member of their group, moved to another city six months ago. The company where he worked thrived, so they opened a branch in the other city. Unlike the other residents who lived in the house, Chioujen moved to this city three years ago. Then he lived and worked in this city. One year ago he joined the others after they came and decided to stay.
While waiting for Shannchyuan to come home, Iren and Yihshyong read books and watched television. Meanwhile, Jenqyih and Shinnshiow sleep soundly until around eleven o'clock. At twelve o'clock it turns out that Shannchyuan has not yet arrived home so half an hour later they decide to have lunch without Shannchyuan.
It is almost half-past two in the afternoon when Shannchyuan finally arrives home. Shannchyuan comes home with a surprise. He is not alone. There is a girl who comes home with him. During the one year they live together in this house, never once did Shannchyuan bring a girl to the house. Let alone brought someone home, he even never had a meeting alone with a girl.
Actually, it wasn't just Shannchyuan. The other four residents never brought any woman to their house. This morning, on the phone, Shannchyuan did not mention that either. He just said he would be home around noon. Of course, they assumed that Shannchyuan would go home alone. Therefore it is natural that this time they are surprised.
"Good afternoon, all!"
Shannchyuan greets his comrades while waving. The four of them look at each other. Witnessing this, Shannchyuan straight away says.
"This is Miss Liuchiou. She will stay here with us for a while. I'll give you the full story later. Now we have to clean up first."
Shannchyuan is indeed the leader of their gang. So it is a normal thing if Shannchyuan makes such a one-sided decision without consulting the others. It's just that all this time Shannchyuan has never made his own decisions without talking to them. So, Shannchyuan's words this time sounds a little strange to the four of them. But it doesn't matter, because from the start the four of them had agreed to obey Shannchyuan even though Shannchyuan never asked them to follow his words. Iren suspects this time there is an extraordinary incident that makes Shannchyuan takes such a step.
Iren nods his head. He is eager to hear Shannchyuan's explanation. Two days ago he saw Shannchyuan talking to a girl. Yesterday he witnessed Shannchyuan running across the street following the girl. And a minute earlier, Shannchyuan brought home a girl, but not the girl he was chasing yesterday.
Shannchyuan takes a bath first while Miss Liuchiou rests in Shannchyuan's room, waiting for her turn. Before arriving at this house, Shannchyuan had told Liuchiou not to say anything yet to his friends. Even though Liuchiou found it strange, she still obeyed Shannchyuan's words. While waiting Liuchiou observed the situation in the room. Nothing unusual in the room. There is a bed, a study table, a few chairs, a wardrobe and a wooden chest. Plain bedroom walls, without any decorations, except for a wall clock that is not too big. On the table is an alarm clock that is the size of the palm of a grown man's hand. There was a notebook beside the alarm and had the name "Duanmuh Shannchyuan" written on it. The word "Shannchyuan" really makes Liuchiou is thinking again about the rain she had experienced yesterday.
About 20 minutes later, Shannchyuan finishes taking a shower. He enters the room, already dressed neatly and invites Liuchiou to take a shower. After Liuchiou enters the bathroom, Shannchyuan immediately gathers his four friends in the living room to explain what really happened yesterday.
"Then how did you get out of the lift?" asks Yihsyhong.
"As usual, Hannrong inspected the building as soon as he arrived. So he got us out of there," replies Shannchyuan.
"You haven't notified the police?" asks Iren.
"Not yet. I'm still thinking about it. I don't know if what the girl saw was really a kidnapping case or just a commotion among the family members. In any case, I don't want to cause Hannrong any trouble. If we file a complaint with the police, there's a risk that the police will also call Hannrong as a witness."
Shannchyuan pauses a moment.
"The owner of the building will definitely consider him negligent. They definitely think Hannrong let the criminals entered the building and chased people. I don't think Hannrong is deserved to be punished,"
Shannchyuan also explained the reason for bringing the girl home.
"Then, about this girl. Why don't you take her home? They will even stay here with us," Jenqyih asks.
"This girl came a week earlier than scheduled. So her family will not look for her in three days. So we will take her to her family in three days. Besides, she seems reluctant to be with her relatives. She doesn't really know them. Or maybe she doesn't know them at all. So she is afraid that they will limit her activity as soon as she arrives at her family's house. So at least for those three days, she still wants to get some freedom. I don't think there's anything wrong with us helping her this time.
Dahge must be crazy!
Upon hearing Shannchyuan's excuse, Iren shouts in his mind. How could a middle-aged man think like a teenager? But come to think of it, if he is in Shannchyuan's place, maybe he will make the same absurd decision. So perhaps his action is not entirely wrong. At least for the time being, until there is a better solution.
Nevertheless, bringing home a young girl who clearly still has a family isn't something a grown man like them should do. What if then her family thinks this is a kidnapping? Of course, they will all be in trouble. However, Iren knew more or less what kind of life Shannchyuan had been leading. He realises that Shannchyuan is not a bad person. It's just that sometimes he neglects the things that happen around him. Not ignorant, but just doesn't want to interfere in other people's affairs.
They are all clumsy people. People could say they are the type that a little difficult to socialise. Right now, they aren't on the purpose of being cold or indifferent to Miss Liuchiou, but they really don't know how to behave in such a situation. Shannchyuan assures them that sometimes once or twice in life, people commit crazy acts. Yes, they had all done something crazy. Leaving the routine in life and choosing to travel indefinitely is a weird action that difficult to explain. When doing so, many people accused them of running away from the realities of life or even shirking responsibility, both family responsibility and work responsibility.
But the decision is that they all agreed to let the girl stay here. It's only for three days after all. If neighbours ask, just say that the girl is Shannchyuan's niece who just came from out of town. After all, soon they will also move from there. Soon the girl finishes taking a shower and immediately joins them in the living room.
"Good afternoon, all. My name is Liuchiou Yinqyueh. I just came to this city four days ago. In three days I will meet my relatives who live in this city to live with them. I think Uncle Duanmu told me about what happened. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask. "
Uncle Duanmu? This girl called Dahge uncle? How old you are, Dahge!
Iren exclaims silently.
They all take turns introducing themselves according to age order—Shannchyuan, Yihshyong, Jenqyih, Iren and finally Shinnshiow. The girl is busy memorising their names. Duanmuh Shannchyuan, Shimen Yihshyong, Dongfang Jenqyih, Nangong Iren and Beeihae Shinnshiow.
Duanmuh Shannchyuan is the oldest occupant. Therefore, his four friends called him Dahge. The five of them are single middle-aged men who decide to live under one roof while living in this city. For about half an hour, they were engaged in fluid questions and answers.
Then comes the time to discuss the serious matters that happened yesterday.
